Elevator for reels



April 11, 1950 Y. A. BQUGET 2,503,995

ELEVATOR FOR REELS Filed Oct. 31, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR K94. BO UGET A T TORNE) April 11, 1950 Y. A. BOUGET 2,503,995

ELEVATOR FOR REELS FiledOot. 51, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 [NVENTOR V. ILBOUGET A T TORNEY April 11, 1950 Y. A. BOUGET ELEVATOR FOR REELS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 51, 1947 INVENTOR mmaouaer ATTORNEY Apr1l 11, 1950 Y'. A. BOUGET 2,

ELEVATOR FOR REELS Filed Oct. 51, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Y. ILBOUGET A TTORNEY Patented Apr. 11, 1950 ELEVATOR FOR REELS Yves A. Bouget, West Orange, N. J., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 31, 1947, Serial No. 783,300

6 Claims. (01. 242-58) This invention relates to elevators for reels, and more particularly to an elevator for use in a takeup or supply unit of a reeling apparatus.

In the manufacture of various types of cable, large and heavy reels are employed both in takeup and supply units thereof. The conventional supports for such reels in takeup and supply units includes cone centers, one of which is movable toward the other to enter the hubs of a reel to secure the reel in the unit for rotation. The reels, whether empty or full, are too heavy for manual lifting into alignment with the cone centers and holding the reel until the necessary relative movement of the cone centers results in the supporting of the reelthereon.

An object of the invention is to provide an elevator which is simple in structure and highly efficient in elevating reels.

With this and other objects in. view, the invention comprises an elevator for reels having a frame with a movable table thereon normally centered in the frame and carrying rollers to support a reel. Fluid operated means is provided to move the frame vertically with the table to elevate the reel, at which time means is provided to guide the framein its vertical movement.

More specifically the elevator is designed for use in a takeup or supply unit hav ng spaced centers to support the reel for rotation, the elevator including an L-shaped frame movable relative to the centers between a lower position and an upper position. The table carried by the frame is supported by rollers whereby the reel may be readily moved laterally with the table during relative movement of the cone centers for either mount ng the reel on the centers or freeing the reel from the centers. Opposing springs carried by the frame and connected to the table normally center the table in the frame and return the table to its normal position after it has been moved laterally during the relative movements of the supporting centers. Furthermore, a stop is provided to limit the vertical movement of the frame to automatically align the hub of the reel with the cone centers upon which it is to be mounted.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional View of the elevator shown in combinat on with a reel supportor supply unit;

2 Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the'structure shown in Fig. 1, a portion thereof being broken away; V p q Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the structure shown inFig.1;and Y Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary isometric view of a portion of the elevator structureg Referring now to the drawings, the apparatus disclosed therein includes a main housing [0 bay;- ing side walls It and I2 which support elements is and It having cone centers l5 and I61 ,The elements l3 and M are of the conventional type of cone center units, the first being at a fixed position while the other, namely the element l4, being movable to bring about the mounting ofa reel l8 between the elements, the cone centers [5 and I6 entering the hubs of the reel. The elevator has an L-shaped frame, indicated generally at 20, with a vertical portion? formed of channel members 2| connected by' anemia member 22. The lower ends of the channel members M are secured to a horizontal portion of the frame which is composed ofchannel members 24 secured together by a to lateral member 25'and parallel spaced bottom lateral members 26 21. Diagonally extending braces 28 having their upper ends secured to the horizontal channel members 24 complete the structure of the frame with the exception of an angle member 29 which extends across the back of the vertical port on of the frame and has its ends secured to the vertical channel members 2|.

The elevator rests normally on the bottom 30 of the housing In which is spaced above the floor to allow for the table indicated generally at 32. The path of movement of the elevator is controlled by pairs of rollers 33 and 34 rotatably supported by the sides I I and I2 of the main housing l0 and extending inwardly therefrom to straddle. the

vertical member 2 I. To minimize Wear, hardened plates 35 and 36 are mounted on the legs ofthe channel members 2| to'be engaged by the rollers 33 and 34, respectively.

The table 32 includes a rectangular open frame 38 positioned between the bottom lateral, members 25 and 21 and supported by rollers 3,9...carried thereby. A pair of rollers 40, are positioned in the hollowportion of the table frame 38 and have their ends journalled in suitable bearing structures in the ends thereof tofrotatably support the reel l8 when positioned thereon. An arm 43 fixed to the frame 38 of the table extends over the member 26 and is providedwith an aperture 44 to receive theinner endsof tension springs 45. The outer ends of the springs 3 45 are connected to pins 46 carried by the member 26.

The elevator is moved vertically between its lower position shown in the drawings, to an upper position where the reel will have its hub aligned with the cone centers l5 and !6, by means of a fluid operated unit 48. The unit 48 in the present embodiment of the invention is an air cylinder including a piston (not shown) to move a piston rod 49 connected thereto, when air under pressure is directed through airlines 50 and 5| which alternately serve as supply and exhaust lines. To raise the elevator, air under pressure is directed through the line 5 at the bottom of the piston, the air above the piston being free to exhaust through the line 51. To lower the elevator, a reverse action takes place, that is, air under pressure is directed through line 5| above the piston and air beneath the piston is allowed to exhaust through line 50. The piston rod 49 is connected at53 to the central member 22 of the vertical portion of the frame 20. The lower position of the elevator or frame is determined by the bottom member of the housing Ill upon which the elevator normally rests. The vertical'limit for the elevator is determined by a control rod 55 having its lower end extending through the bottom it of the housing and secured in a collar 56, while its upper end extends through a collar 51 supported in an aperture 58 of the angle member 29. The upper portion of the control rod 55 is threaded at 60 and provided with a nut iii adjustable thereon for engagement with the collar 5? to stop the elevator in its vertical movement to automatically align the hub of the reel with the cone centers.

Upon considering the operation of the elevator, let it be assumed that the elevator is in its lower position as shown in the drawings to receive a reel l8. The reel [8 is rolled up a damp 65 onto the table 32 where it comes to rest upon the rollers 40. The spaced positions of the rollers function to hold the reel with the hub thereof in a vertical plane with the axes of the cone centers l5 and 16 as illustrated in Fig. 1. The elevator is then raised to its upper position by directing air under pressure through the line as causing the piston in the air cylinder to move the connecting rod 49 vertically, moving the elevator upwardly in a path controlled by the pairs of rollers 33 and 34 until the collar 51 engages the nut SI. At this time, the hub of the reel i8 is positioned in alignment with the cone centers 15 and I6 and the cone center l8 may be moved inwardly to the broken line position shown in Fig. 2, During movement of the cone center Hi from the solid line position shown in Fig. 2, to the broken line position shown therein, the reel l8, after the cone l6 enters its hub will be moved laterally with the table32 on the rollers 39 against the force of one of the springs 45. The reel it may be freely rotated on the rollers 4% during movement of the cone center it to align an aperture 56 in the head of the reel with a locking pin 61 carried by the unit or element H5. The reel is now mounted on the cone centers and the ele vator may be lowered to its original position freeing the reel for rotation to serve either as a takeup reel or a supply reel. While the elevator is being lowered, the table 32 returns to its normal central position in the frame by the springs equalizing their forces on the table.

When it is desirable to remove the reel from the apparatus, the elevator is raised from its lower position to its upper position until the rollers 40 engage the reel after which the cone center I6 is moved from the broken line position shown in Fig. 2 to the solid line position shown therein. The cone center It is then moved outwardly free of the reel l8 after which the elevator is lowered. At the start of the downward movement of the elevator the reel head adjacent the cone center l6 will rest on the table and the reel will be tilted slightly until the end of the reel on the cone center l5 slides therefrom as permitted by the table 32 moving laterally. If desired, the upper position of the elevator may be lowered to position the axis of the reel a given distance below the axes of the cone centers where the reel may be readily picked up from the table 32 by the cone centers and, when releasing the reel, it will move laterally a given distance before contacting the rollers (if! of the table. This is to minimize the movement of the table during removal of the reel. In either instance, whether mounting the reel on the cone centers or removing it therefrom the freedom of movement of its support, namely the table 32 to allow movement of the reel laterally, and the rollers all in the table to allow rotation of the reel for aligning the aperture 66 of the reel with the pin 3'! of the unit i3, makes it possible to readily handle a heavy reel with little effort on the part of the operator.

' It is to be understood that the above described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. An elevator for reels comprising a frame, a table movably supported by the frame, means normally centering the table with the frame, rollers to support a reel Supported in the table, fluid operated means to move the frame vertically with the table to elevate the reel, and means to guide the frame in its vertical movement.

2. An elevator for use in a takeup or supply unit having spaced relatively movable centers tosupport a reel for rotation, the elevator comprising a frame movable relative to the centers between a lower position and an upper position, a table to support a reel carried by the frame and movable laterally thereof, whereby relative movement of the centers into supporting engagement with the reel will cause movement of the reel with the table, means to cause movement of the frame between the said positions, and means to normally urge the table into its central position in the frame.

3. An elevator for use in a takeup or supply unit having spaced relatively movable centers to support a reel for rotation, the elevator comprising a frame movable relative to the centers between a lower position and an upper position, a table to support a reel carried by the frame and movable laterally thereof, whereby relative movement of the centers into supporting engagement with the reel will cause movement of the reel with the table, means to cause movement of the frame between the said positions, spaced rollers to guide the frame in a given path relative to the centers during its movement between the said positions, and means to normally urge the table into its central position in the frame.

4. An elevator for use in a takeup or supply unit having spaced relatively movable centers to support a reel for rotation, the elevator comprising an L-shaped frame having a vertical portion and a horizontal portion, rollers carried by the horizontal portion, a table supported by the rollers and movable laterally of the frame thereon to support a reel, means connected to the frame to move the frame with the table and reel vertically between a lower position and an upper position where the reel will be disposed between the centers, the table being moved laterally of the frame with the reel during relative movement of the said centers into reel supporting positions, and rollers engaging the vertical portion of the frame to guide the frame in a given path relative to the said centers.

5. An elevator for use in a takeup or supply unit having spaced relatively movable centers to support a reel for rotation, one of the centers having a projection to enter an aperture of the reel to form a locking connection between the reel and the adjacent center, the elevator comprising a frame movable relative to the centers between a lower position and an upper position, a table carried by the frame and movable laterally thereof, spaced rollers carried by the table to support the reel for rotation thereon, means to cause movement of the frame between the said positions, the table being movable with the reel during relative movement of the centers into reel supporting positions and the reel being free to rotate on the rollers during lateral movement of the reel to align the aperture of the reel with the v said projection.

6. An elevator for use in a takeup or supply unit having spaced relatively movable centers to support a reel for rotation, one of the centers having a projection to enter an aperture of the reel'to form a locking connection between the reel and the adjacent center, the elevator comprising a frame movable relative to the centers 1 between a lower position and an upper position, a table carried by the frame and movable laterally thereof, spaced rollers carried by the table to support the reel for rotation thereon, means to cause movement of the frame between the said positions, variable means to limit the vertical movement of the frame, the table being movable with the reel during relative movement of the centers into reel supporting positions and the reel being free to rotate on the rollers during lateral movement of the reel to align the aperture of the reel with the said projection.

YVES A. BOUGET.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,468,077 Raabe Sept. 18, 1923 1,836,815 Reeves Dec. 15, 1931 1,908,121 Crafts May 9, 1933 

